MSPCA: Brush up on pet dental health

Saturday

May 11, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 11, 2013 at 11:11 AM

Just as with humans, our pets’ teeth and gums can become diseased if preventative maintenance and dental care are not prioritized. Periodontal disease — which can affect upwards of 80 percent of dogs and cats older than four years old — is a very common problem. In fact, periodontal disease is the single most common disease in cats and dogs.

The following is the third in a series of articles contributed by specialist veterinarians at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. As our pets are living longer and their healthcare needs evolve, these articles are designed to equip readers with information related to specific health conditions and available treatment options. We’ll be publishing a new article every month, spanning a variety of pet health topics.

The list of dental ailments that our pets suffer can spook the most lion-hearted among us: Periodontal disease, fractured teeth, orthodontic problems, oral tumors and other diseases. The list goes on. The sad reality is that as dogs and cats grow older, they all too often suffer silently with painful mouths.

What pet owners must know about dental disease

Just as with humans, our pets’ teeth and gums can become diseased if preventative maintenance and dental care are not prioritized. Periodontal disease — which can affect upwards of 80 percent of dogs and cats older than four years old — is a very common problem. In fact, periodontal disease is the single most common disease in cats and dogs.

Periodontal disease starts when plaque begins to form at the gum line. If this plaque is not removed it can form calculus (“tartar”) and begin to cause disease below the gumlines, ultimately leading to loss of teeth.

There is also excellent evidence to suggest that periodontal disease is a factor in other health issues, such as heart disease and cancer. I cannot stress enough how important it is for pet owners to learn how to brush their pet’s teeth, as well as to have pet’s teeth assessed at annual veterinary check-ups so that gum disease can be arrested before more significant health problems begin to manifest. Both dogs and cats can suffer from periodontal disease. The disease is more common in small dogs because their teeth tend to be more crowded.

Another very serious health issue to be aware of is the formation of dental resorptive lesions, commonly found in cats. This condition is marked by the erosion of teeth.

This is a very painful condition for cats as they have more nerve endings in their teeth than dogs or humans — and it’s estimated that 65 percent or more of domestic cats are affected. And while they cannot be prevented (their cause is as of yet unknown), early detection is crucial toward reducing symptoms and pain.

The current treatment for resorptive lesions is the removal of affected teeth. Remarkably, cats whose diseased teeth are removed routinely revert back to eating dry food, as the gum tissue is very resilient and tough once it heals. Because early detection is essential, my top recommendation is for cat owners to have their pets’ teeth evaluated annually by their veterinarian. Many of these lesions occur below the gum lines, so dental radiographs are necessary to properly diagnose them during dental procedures.

Trauma

Perhaps not surprisingly, bigger breed dogs end up in the veterinary dental operating room often due to fractured teeth.

It’s not uncommon for larger dogs to fracture their teeth when chewing bones: Hooves, antlers, and the hardest of all, Nyla bones.

If the pulp canal of the tooth is exposed, it is a painful source of infection. Fortunately the use of dental digital radiography allows increasingly clear images of damaged teeth to be emailed from veterinarians to dental specialists — so the fastest possible course of treatment can be performed for broken (or diseased) teeth.

Broken teeth can often be repaired if the fracture appears above the gum line; if not, then extraction is generally the best option to relieve the dog from ongoing pain. Digital dental radiographs are also used by veterinarians to assess the overall health of our pets’ teeth and to diagnose dental disease ahead of designing specific treatment plans.

Any pet owner who suspects their dog has fractured a tooth should immediately visit their veterinarian as these injuries are not only very painful but can have huge ramifications for a pet’s overall health and must be treated promptly.

Top dental tips for pets

The following are my top recommendations for pet owners who want to take the best care of their pets by minding their health of their teeth:

Daily brushings: Just like with humans, it is ideal to brush pets’ teeth daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush. And while it’s not necessary to use a paste, the flavoring (e.g., beef, chicken) may appeal to dogs and cats that are not accustomed to having their teeth brushed. Human toothpaste must be avoided as it contains fluoride and foaming agents that can be toxic to pets.

Regular dental cleanings: With pets under anesthesia veterinarians can perform a complete periodontal exam and take dental radiographs to secure a full picture of the pet’s dental health; and the thorough cleaning that will be conducted will remove plaque and calculus from below the gum lines, which is the number-one driver of periodontal disease.

Dental treats: Traditional treats such as sterilized bones, ice cubes, cow hooves, Nyla bones and antlers can cause tooth fractures. Dental treats that have received the Registered Seal by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) are recommended. Generally, if a treat or toy can be indented with a thumb or finger, or if it is edible, it is usually soft enough for dogs to chew safely.

About the Author

By Bill Rosenblad, DVM, director of Dentistry Services, Angell Animal Medical Center, does more than just clean teeth. He leads the dentistry service in treating periodontal disease — the single most common disease in pet cats and dogs — fractured teeth, orthodontic problems, jaw fractures, oral tumors and other oral diseases. Instruction in recognition, diagnosis and treatment of dental and oral diseases is given daily to interns, residents, veterinary staff and visiting students and doctors.

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